Dress-skirt gage



(No Model.)

0. H. TROTT. DRESS SKIRT GAGE.

No. 450,265. Patented Apr. 14, 1891.

CHARLES H. TROT", OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRESS-SKI RT GAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,265, dated April14, 1891.

Application filed AngustQO, 1890. Serial No. 862,515. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. TRO'IT, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chilower side.

cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Dress-Skirt Gages, of' which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to devices used in fitting ladies dress-skirts tothe wearer.

Its object is to provide a mechanical means whereby such skirt can be sofitted that all the corresponding points of its lower edge will beequally distant from the ground or from the waist of the wearer. Iaccomplish this object by the device illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the platform and framewhich I deem the best embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is across-section of the same, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is-aplan view of the frame.- Fig. 4 is a section of the same, showing itbeveled on its Fig. 5 is aview of a thumb-screw.

Like letters refer to like parts in all the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A is the platform which the lower edge of thedress-skirt is intended to meet, and B is the aperture in the platformin which the wearer is to stand while the skirt is-being fitted.

O is a frame secured to the lower side of the platform to support thelatter and keep its surface plane.

D D D are thumb-screws passing through platform and frame, to be used inchanging their elevation from the floor. These screws may be divided inany uniform scale, as E, in order that like elevation may be produced onthe different sides of the platform and frame. Back of the screw D thescale E is marked on the frame to measure the length of the trail of theskirt, if one is wanted.

The dotted lines F in Figs. 2 and 4 represent a section of a dress-skirtreaching the platform.

In using the gage the person to be fitted stands in the aperture B. Thefitter elevates the platform A by means of the screws D D D, at front,sides, and rear, such distance above the floor as it is desired that thelower edge of the skirt shall be, and then fits the skirt to the wearerswaist and hips, so that its lower edge will just meet the platform allthe way around. It is evident that a skirt thus fitted will hang fromthe wearers waist uniformly in all its corresponding parts, even if thewearers natural form is not symmetrical; and if a wearer, after using askirt for a time, finds or thinks she finds that it does not continue tohang right, by returning to the fitter and standing again in the gageshe can be shown her mistake, if she has made one, or the gage will showthe defect, if there is one, and it can be corrected. Thus trouble andunnecessary expense will be avoided.

In the dress-making art in the past the distance of the skirt from thefloor has been measured only by the eyes of the fitter, and so, onaccount of imperfect light at the time of measuring, or inaccuratejudgment in the fitter, or other defects incident to so loose a methodof measurement, it has been a very rare thing to find a lady whosedress-skirt hung evenly at the bottom.

It is obvious that by using my gage perfect evenness can be obtained andthat this can be done though the fitter be an artist of no great skill.

My gage can be made of wood, metal, pasteboard, or any material thatwill maintain its form unchanged.

The platform can be used without the frame, for the thumb-screws can bemade to operate this alone. So the frame and screws can be used withoutthe platform, for the ribs of the frame can be used for the lower edgeof the skirt to meet; but I consider the combination of the platform andframe the most convenient form in which my invention can be utilized. Ifit is desired to have the rear of the skirt reach the ground, then theframe can be beveled from front to rear, as shown in Fig. 4.

Instead of thumb screws, any other supports may be used which willenable the fitter to elevate and lower the platform.

Having fully described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A gage for fitting womens dress-skirts, consisting of a platformhaving a central aperture, combined with adjustable legs designed toraise or lower the platform.

2. A gage for fitting womens dress-skirts,

composed of a platform having a central ap- I l. A platform having acentral aperture erture, in combination with thumb-screws deandscrew-threaded apertures, in combination signed to raise or lower theplatform, subwith a frame secured thereto, and thumb stantially asstated. screws designed to be used as legs and t0 5 3. A platform havinga central aperture raise or lower the platform and frame, as and 15large enough for a person to stand in, and for the purpose stated.several small screw-threaded apertures, com- CHARLES H. TROTT.

bined With thumb-screws fitting in the latter Witnesses:

apertures, substantially as nd for the pur- 1 N. J \VATTS,

1o pose stated. E. C. CRAWFORD.

